The Pyramids

Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates (KRJDA) of New Haven, Connecticut, designed these concrete and glass buildings, located at 3500 DePauw Boulevard and easily visible from I-465, for the College Life Insurance Company of America, established by John W. Burkhart in 1946.

By the 1960s, the company needed room to expand in increments. Roche and Dinkeloo originally conceived a nine-building complex, much of which would be dedicated to a vast storage space for insurance records. Advances in computer technology, however, rendered six of the buildings unnecessary.

Construction of three buildings began in 1971, with the first occupancy occurring in fall 1972. Expressing the use of power in form, Roche and Dinkeloo utilized massive expanses of concrete on the north and west sides and glass on the south and eastsides of each modern structure. Each of the three buildings contains 100,000 square feet of office space, rises 11 stories in a pyramidal shape, and connects to the others by an elevated walkway.

Located in an office complex known as College Park, the Pyramids overlook a meadow and a pond—a clever juxtaposition of the severe modernity of glass and concrete with a pastoral setting that recalls the rural roots of the area. Unique in design, the Pyramids have earned a national reputation as an outstanding example of modem architecture. Ownership of the buildings has since changed hands to Cushman and Wakefield.

In April 2022, local commercial real estate investment firm KennMar purchased the Pyrmads from New York City-based Sterling American Property, Inc. for an undisclosed price. KennMar plans a complete update of the property, including updated facades and improved common areas.